Holiday In the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love 5)

“I’m hoping you’re joking.”

“I thought your reputation needed spicing up a little. I did wear sunscreen.”

“So you’re telling me I had lunch in the beach café, and all I wore was factor twenty?”

“And a smile. A big smile.”

“Fliss!”

Fliss grinned. “Calm down. I wore a sundress. It was almost decent.”

Harriet choked on laughter. “Well, that’s punishment enough for teasing me. I can’t remember when I last saw you wear a dress.”

“Yeah, it felt weird.”

“And what are you wearing now?”

“Well, since Grams knows who I am, and I’m not likely to bump into anyone else tonight, I’m wearing my ancient cutoffs with a crop top. My abs are on display.”

“Disgraceful, Felicity.”

Fliss was about to respond when she noticed another dog speeding along the beach.

It looked like—

No, it couldn’t be. Not out here on the beach on his own.

But—

“Crap.” She sprang to her feet, the phone still in her hand. She could hear Harriet’s voice asking her what was wrong. “I need to go. Hero seems to have escaped. Matilda must have forgotten to close the kitchen door. Talk to you later.” She slid the phone into her pocket, put her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly.

Hero skidded to a halt, sand flying, and turned his head in her direction.

She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted his name, relieved when he changed direction and sped toward her.

“Whoa. What are you doing out here all on your own? An

d what’s the hurry?” She made a fuss over him. “Does Matilda know you’ve escaped? You’re supposed to be baby-sitting her tonight.”

Hero turned away, but she grabbed his collar.

“Oh no, you’re not running off again.” She was almost pulled off balance as the dog strained and tugged. “You run away and suddenly you want to go home?” She adjusted her hold and braced her legs.

Hero whined and nudged her thigh.

“I have no idea what you want me to do, but you need to calm down. All this energy, and you’ve already had two long walks today. You’re the reason I can wear a top that shows my abs. I’ll call Matilda to let her know I’ve found you. She’ll be worrying.” Keeping one hand on Hero’s collar, she called Matilda’s number.

The phone went to voice mail.

“That’s weird.” She frowned, and then remembered that this was Matilda. She’d probably lost the phone. Dropped it in the bath? Maybe she was taking a bath. Did she even realize she’d left the doors to the house open? “I’m beginning to see why Chase wanted her to have security. I guess I’m going to have to take you home myself.”

She whistled to Charlie and walked briskly until she reached the part of the beach that was private. Because the tide was low, she was able to walk straight onto the stretch of sand that fronted the Adams property.

As she’d suspected, the glass doors that led to the kitchen were open. She stepped through them and saw the cup on the tiled floor, lying in pieces in the middle of a pool of liquid. Next to it was Matilda’s phone. Also in pieces.

Fliss paused. Why had she dropped everything?

And then she heard a sound upstairs, a dull thud, and the hair rose on the back of her neck.